Featuring Reviews of Triangle Area Restaurants, and Food and Drink Recommendations!

It’s strawberry season!

Last Saturday morning we went to DJ’s Berry Patch in Apex, less than a mile from where we live. For $10 you can get a bucket and fill it to the top with fresh-picked strawberries. I think it was a great experience for my 4 year old. The field was really nice and clean, with raised rows for the strawberries and clean straw to walk or kneel on. http://www.djsberrypatch.com/

Strawberry Mojito

When we got home I washed them all up, sliced them, and sprinkled sugar all over them. Then I let them soak in their own juices in the fridge while I made a pound cake. I’ve always thought that pound cake made for the best strawberry shortcake.

The juice also makes for some great strawberry mojitos. Since we’ve got some fresh mint growing in little pots outside, it’s been a good summer for mojitos.

Strawberry Mojito

2 oz. lime juice

2 tsp. sugar

1/4 cup strawberry juice (from the bottom of those sugar-covered strawberry slices, after it’s been sitting a day)

2 oz. light rum (I like mine strong)

2 oz. club soda

about 10-15 mint leaves

First I juice the limes to get the juice, and add the sugar to the lime juice. Mix it until the sugar dissolves. I add the strawberry juice to that and mix it in, then the rum. Last I add the club soda. I know you’re supposed to use a shaker, but my hands always get so cold I don’t use mine any more. I just tear my mint leaves in half and layer them between the crushed ice. Then after I pour the mojito over the crushed ice, I just bash those mint leaves in with my straw and mix it up some more.

Limes seem to have been in season too, so I get some fresh ones from the grocery store and juice one whole one to get about 1 oz. of lime juice. I like to add a couple strawberry slices to make it look nice too. These have been so refreshing on these hot North Carolina evenings!